Extra money will go toward draft picks, more veteran depth

San Diego collected $4.5 million in salary-cap room Sunday, a total that will be divided between three main areas to build and maintain the roster. The boost has been scheduled since late March when the team released left tackle Jared Gaither with a post-June 1 designation.

That designation didn’t change the inevitable: Gaither would cost the Chargers $6 million in dead money.

It effectively softened the blow for 2013.

Last year, Gaither signed a four-year, $24.5 million deal that pocketed him $8 million in signing bonus and $1 million in 2012 base salary. New Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco inherited a situation in which Gaither’s release, given deep organizational concerns about the veteran’s commitment to football, was all but a foregone conclusion, leaving the only question how it would be done.

A straight release meant Gaither counted $6 million against this year’s cap, a figure rooted in the remaining portion of Gaither’s prorated signing bonus.

With the June 1 designation, Gaither’s contract counted until Sunday like he was still on the roster with $2 million in prorated bonus and $4.5 million in base salary. When Sunday came, the base salary went. The other $4 million in Gaither dead money awaits the 2014 cap.

After recently signing outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and left tackle Max Starks, the Chargers had less than $150,000 in cap room before Sunday. The new space will be spread about, mainly to finish signing the draft class, add veteran depth and store for the in-season reserve bank.

Right tackle D.J. Fluker is the only Chargers rookie left to sign. Money hasn’t been the holdup with the first-round pick; his guaranteed four-year contract with an option for a fifth year is all but done.

The last hurdle is the deal’s offset language, and that is expected to be resolved after more picks surrounding the No. 11 choice are signed. Fluker has been a full participant in the Chargers’ offseason workout program, and as long as the impasse ends, as expected, before rookies report to training camp in late July, the starter won’t miss any instruction.

Fluker will count about $2 million against this year’s cap.

The Chargers, with the Freeney and Starks additions, have made recent strides to address arguably their most pressing roster needs. That said, works remains to upgrade their depth, one example coming at nose tackle.

In 2012, San Diego carried three veteran nose tackles between Aubrayo Franklin, Cam Thomas and Antonio Garay. Today, Thomas is the only veteran at the position, and this is the final year of his rookie contract. Undrafted rookies Kwame Geathers and Byron Jerideau are his company.

At least one veteran likely will be signed before training camp.

Teams look to keep funds in reserve for the season to go toward replacing injured players. It also allows for flexibility to make the type of midseason move former Chargers GM A.J. Smith swung in 2007, acquiring wide receiver Chris Chambers before the trade deadline for a postseason push.